June 4 – Strickeen Mountain Trail at the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney. Almost passed on the hike today- my body was tired… Decided to go and stop when my body told me to rest. So I went part way up and then found an amazing spot of grassy flatland with a trickling brook, friendly sheep, a blooming hawthorn tree and an incredible, peaceful vista! I was going to read but instead just breathed in the fresh air and view, meditated a bit and spoke with hikers going by. It was a real gift to find this spot and wait for Bill and Bob to return from their trip to the summit. Words cannot describe the peacefulness and wonder of this respite, which I never would have experienced if I had pushed myself to climb further. In deep gratitude…

After our hike up Strickeen Mountain Trail we had a wonderful lunch at the well known Kate Kearney’s Cottage in the Gap of Dunloe.

Took a small bus tour around the Rings of Kerry today. These 2 photos are taken at the Kerry Cliffs… as spectacular in their own way as the Cliffs of Moher. Skeelig Michael (of Star Wars fame) was visible from these cliffs.

A few more images from our Ring of Kerry tour. The first is a “famine house” – one of many homes deserted during the famine (1840s) as people died, ended up in “workhouses”, or emigrated to the US.

In closing out our trip, here are a few photos of life around our Airbnbs and town.

Our unbelievable house in Westport with a billion dollar view.

Our great airbnb in Killarney. Bill and Bob cooking away. This evening Bob fixed Nepali chick peas and rice.

The neighborhood cat in Killarney who wanted to come visit.

Rick and Karen at a Galway Pub. Okay… I did drink more beer in 2 weeks than I normally drink in a decade. The Guinness was actually quite delicious.

And one last image… and I think it has to be on a hiking trail. Strickeen Mountain Trail.

A friend asked me if I could choose one word to describe our trip. I decided that 3 words was the best I could do… family, adventure and beauty. And I am certain that Mom was widely smiling down on her chicks as they celebrated family and her ancestral grounds!

Now I am packing to head back to Europe on Tuesday. Keith has a military history conference in Kiel, Germany. I’ll be back on the blog soon! Thanks for coming along to Ireland with us! Slan go foill!

And even though we had fabulous sunny weather for the entire two weeks, I love this poem by Carrie Newcomer.

Dingle, Co. Kerry

Everything is closer here
Rain, wool, 
Low hanging clouds, 
Sea water, the color green, 
Time
Dry stack stone fences
Divide the upper and lower pastures,  
Dotted with quizzical donkeys, 
Shaggy ponies, Soggy sheep.
Every curve in the road
Has a story to tell you
But never directly, 
Always in a round about 
Way, never really reaching an
End, just resting for a 
Bit, a pause between 
Small moments 
For a sip of tea, before
Continuing.

He said, “No one visits Ireland for the weather”
And yet the weather is an actual presence
Dramatic, in the manner 
Of untamable wind and water
Rolling forward like a run on sentence
Or spilling down like a choir of sunlight
Through thick grey sky.
An always welcome, though unexpected  guest

It is no wonder to me that the Irish people
Created the kind of melodies
That can make you want to 
Clasp your hands together in joy
While they absolutely and utterly 
Break your heart,
As longing and living 
Exist side by side here
Overlapping it seems
A good portion of the ages.
Comedy and all the sad bits
As sure and lasting
As a circle of stones.

Carrie Newcomer - 3/4/2023